Kapitel 46: Early timings

----So this is a bonus and extra long chapter...----

After listening to Alexia and Hio conversation I was prepared to slam my head into the table. "Okay so I'm just gonna say this now. If you two start kissing imma vomit."

"What!"

"I-"

"It just felt like everyone was too comfy had to change the mood. Now that that's done I'm gonna get a drink."

I got up and left the bench. Going off to the vendors I felt my stomach grumble. Making my trip a double. I would get some...Ramen? Noodles certainly existed, but no instant noodles. However I had to be honest instant ramen was garbage and a good ramen was one you made yourself. I thought there was far too many people who always suggested instant ramen being the ultimate food.

I stood up into a line. It had quite a few people collected around. However i nearly cringed at the announcer coming onto the...Wait how does he project his voice?

"ALRIGHTY! As it turns out the previous announcer had to go to the bathroom and nearly shat himself to death! Hahaha! I'm just kidding, I'M THE SAME GUYYYYYY! I am however actually in pain. Please send someone up here... Anyway the next round of fights! We had gotten every other fighter to participate at least once! However two fighters have been removed from the competition and now we are left to twelve individuals. Fighters 3 and 12 go to the arena!"

What kind of announcer is this guy. He seemed more serious earlier however now he just seemed like he was being threatened to make the show more entertaining. I could feel that though, I believed half of the fire nation elites were raised into psychopaths. All it took was a general or... Well I didn't want to actually blame the royal family. Except I had to admit Azula easily could've done it. She made Ty Lee go through hell for her performance in the circus to make her join the team.

Huh...I should actually stop Azula from doing that...maybe. If that ever happens that is.

"What are you doing?"

"Huh?" I looked around and found a girl with a bob cut with two twin tails. However I ha also realized the line had moved. "Oh sorry." I moved up and looked back at the girl. "I was just thinking about things."

"Yup, Look I don't really care I just want to get a bowl of food before I have to head back."

"Wow rude." Taking a second look at the girl my eyes widened as I got two notifications.

I was a little shocked and recovered quickly checking her stats.

<Mai>

I ran through my thoughts quickly. Starting with the fact Mai was here. She was a fire nation noble so for her to attend this event made sense. Although it did make me question the contact between her and Azula. Secondly came her stats. They were relatively normal with the reputation and affection stat. However the Attitude stat seemed to be the one specific to her. I was guessing if I saw her at Omashu she would have a complete -100 instead of her current -89. Not to mention It made me wonder if she would just become more optimistic. Would she stop being a debby downer? A lot of questions there like how do I even raise it?

I stared back to her. "I remember you it took me a second, but I knew you seemed familiar! Way back in the day when i was first joining the junior squads of the military. Now that I think about that though... That was a real waste of time for my career."

"Right, I think I remember something like that. Except I didn't really ask?"

"Yeah, but you acknowledged it so you are still care. I guess that rude comment got to you?"

Mai blinked and looked down. "Huh. I don't feel like eating anymore, bye."

I looked at the notifications.

With no change in her mood I left it with the plus of getting some points in our relationship status. If I wanted to put Azula on the right path I would need to make her more well friendly with her friends. Mai and Ty Lee were more attached to Azula then being there willingly. Telling that Mai likely wouldn't talk to Azula without Azula initiating.

I couldn't really say much about that though. I sighed and stepped out of line. I might as well talk to Azula. She would likely feed me as well, maybe... Telling that I ate earlier me getting a snack would likely be odd. It was fine though, talking to Azula about Mai would be one thing and asking about lightning bending would be important too.

Walking up with confidence was important. "Hey yo! What's up guard man?"

"Wh-what? What is your business."

I nodded I caught the guard with a surprise I kept it rolling. "Ah you know how it is. Living life, Kind of hungry. I'm one of the competitors and our lovely princess is my sponsor. So I wanted to ask her about me fighting. You know how it is, Can't disappoint her."

A second guard opened the door. "Hey what's going on out here?"

"Oh uh..Well this guy says he wants to ask the princess something."

"Hmmm, Fuck off kid. The princess isn't going to accept your half-baked proposal."

I raised a eye-brow. "Bro, no offense to her, but I'm pretty sure people would be way to terrified of her."

"Exactly, now fuck off."

I smiled as Azula stared around back of her chair. She wasn't saying shit, I smiled more. She wanted how I handled this situation by myself. Not too mention She and Ozai now doubt heard what I said.

"Haha, good stuff there." I kneeled down and bowed. "Oh humblest Princess Azula! It seems my plans for simple conversation is rejected! I must apologize." I could only grin as i made it over dramatic. The first guard had no idea what to do, but the one who opened the door looked sterner.

"I will inform you later about your friend Mai's words later."

I could hear a whispering before Azula spoke. "Ah let him in. He's no fun."

The two guards were stunned and straightened up. "Okay princess! Umm, Fire Lord sir! May I let the guest in!"

"If my daughter let's him shouldn't you oblige her?"

The man was practically sweating bullets. I patted him on the shoulder, "I know buddy, the two of them are terrifying aren't they."

"You can leave us."

"Yes princess."

The guard left the door and closed it behind him. I walked next to the princess. "Greetings! Can i kneel here Azula?"

"Go ahead."

I could see the notifications popping up. They were both for Azula and Ozai. It seemed I made in impression. I knelt down, and Azula spoke again. "So you aren't even gonna try the proper greetings?"

"Honestly I'll likely fuck it up. I did not memorize it. it would be more ruder to use a crude imitation then my casual respect." I could see Ozai unmoving, the guy was practically a wooden board. however he seem to feel my gaze as he looked over.

"An interesting stance to take in front of the royal family."

"Well, Fire Lord Ozai. My causal and relax respect to the princess is greater than the false gestures of respect shown by some generals. After all respect and honor are important, and those who speak with foolishness are unneeded in the fire nation."

I felt a little bad about using a barb into Zuko. However the slight smirk on the bastards face meant it worked. Azula rolled her eyes to me and smiled, She was hiding her face from her father by sitting in the throne sideways. "So why have you come up here? You said something about Mai?"

I nodded, "Righto, basically I just ran into her and wanted to ask. Have you been in contact?" She frowned slightly however she definitely knew what I was trying to hint at. "Well, I don't see how the person I'm sponsoring would worry about that?" I wanted to punch her...Clever as she was, she was also a sadistic little monster. After all I shouldn't have known they were friends. Unless Mai brought it up, which she hadn't and Azula knew that.

"Ah well, its quite simple. You wouldn't have allowed me in otherwise. Other than that, I was just curious."

"Ah so you lied to talk to me?"

I smiled, struggling to lead into what I actually cared about. Since I couldn't just talk about it with her with her dad here. "Why would I ever lie? It was the truth after all."

"So what did she say?"

"Well...I met her in my past apparently so we just recognized each other that's all..."

Azula frowned, "Really?"

"That and I wanted to ask about...Let's say permission? If I am to be useful, perhaps could I show off a little?"

I could feel Ozai's eyes. "What is this permission you seek?" Azula was still hiding her face from her father and making a devastating smile. "Well my Fire lord. I made deal with the princess."

The smile disappeared into panic. "You see, I thought I had mastered fire bending until I first met the princess."

"Really? You believe you had mastered fire bending at such an age."

"Well, at least until I met your amazing daughter your majesty." Azula was no longer panicked about what I was saying. She had thought I was gonna mention the awkward friendship promise. She wanted to mess with me so i did it back. However now was time to get serious. This dictated how close I could truly get to Azula after all.

It was time to utilize what I knew Azula likely mentioned to her father to brag.

"With the knowledge of fire bending and my self taught techniques. I had made a theoretical firebending that Azula could already use on a sub-conscious level." He tightened slightly when I didn't use her title, but I continued. "With her blue flamed fire bending she is able to manipulate the heat of her flames. Her blue flames burn oxygen within the air making it more powerful. I promised to expand this ability. In exchange I wanted to learn her knowledge of fire bending in turn." Her eyes widened slightly, but she kept staring at me along with her father.

I stopped for only a second to breath in and out. "If I could your majesties, may I utilize the bending art of lighting?"

Ozai had clearly been surprised at what I said, but he wasn't as good as Azula and it looked like a cardboard cut out imitating a human. Much like a well-known conspired lizard man.

Azula stepped in and sat somewhat properly in her seat to talk to her father. "I did actually managed to forget to mention this to you father. Would you mind me and Orin experimenting with this new possible path of fire bending?"

"Hmm, What made you seek to teach him lightning bending?"

"Excuse me Fire Lord Ozai. I taught it to myself using the same theoretical fire-bending. Fire is a type of energy, so with that in mind I taught myself to bend lighting. I asked the princess only in help after we prove my theories true."

In truth it hadn't mattered. I didn't need the training and this was my plan to get permission to start zapping people. As well as a bonus in forcing Azula into an awkward position while also forcing her into the role as my experimental subject for fire-bending. This was a spur of the moment thought. however with the notifications of this conversation...

I needed to test if I could force a position onto Azula. Much like the crush position she had with me. She could force them, so could I? I mentally sighed with the fact I was risking my stance with this.

"Very well, Azula if you can strength your abilities further with his help. You may teach him lighting bending. Besides..." He stroked his beard like wise guy. "I would like to see his self taught lightning bending. Don't forget to mention these things to me next time."

"Thank you father, and I won't. Do you mind me stepping out with Orin."

He nodded and Azula practically Jumped out of her seat and pulled me toward the door. She opened it to the two guards and whispered to the two of them."*LEAVE!*"

The two guards looked at each other and at me and the grip she had on my arm "Right away." They then marched away with the speed unlike any other.

She closed the door and pulled me closer. "*How dare you.*"

I shook my head and grabbed her hand with my free arm. Pulling it off and into a hand hold. "*What's wrong? I thought messing with each other was part of the game?*"

She looked at our hands and pulled away. I could see the very slight blush on her face. "*Look, I'm sorry if I went to far. However I wasn't given much of a choice. You are one hard cookie to crack.*" I patted her head and smiled. She let it happen with a trailed reluctance. "*Not so bad is it though? Fun having jousting matches.*"

"*Ugh, yes. It is alright. Except you embarrassed me like Zuko does to himself.*"

"*Yeah I don't think so. Your dad is terrible at the whole you thing. He likely took it as you wanting to test it for yourself and self perfect yourself. It is how he keeps you under control, after all if you are focused on being better than Zuko. He doesn't really need to correct your mistakes or manage you.*"

She stared slightly and punched me. "Go."

"Cute and awkward." I opened up the notifications as i walked away. It was time to see my rewards... Cue the celebration dance.

Azula reentered the room and I before I left I could here Ozai speak. "If he proves talented, he could prove to be suitable for the bloodline..."

I widened my eyes and just speed up away.

----So Ozai doesn't have much useful screen time in my eyes. Always looking like a cardboard cut out of a villain or after losing his bending a dullard. So I'm gonna make the Mc biased for now until I decided on a solid personality for him. Since he is supposed to be cunning and cruel and that's really it. Also how'd you like my extra long chapter really went on a tangent for this one that didn't stop. Which i feel turned out great! Hopefully i can do more of these in the future.-----